How King Louis Survived an Assassination Attempt with a 25-Barrel Gun in 1835

In 1835, a dramatic and deadly assassination attempt was made on the King of France, King Louis. This event is notable not only for the audacity of the attacker but also for the remarkable survival of the king despite the deadly nature of the attack.

The Assassination Attempt

An anarchist, determined to kill King Louis, engineered a unique and deadly weapon. He built a gun with 25 barrels, designed to fire all at once. This was no ordinary firearm; it was a handmade contraption loaded with over 400 bullets.

The attacker positioned this gun in a window along the parade route where the king was expected to pass. As King Louis approached during the parade, the gun was fired, unleashing a spray of bullets into the crowd.

The Aftermath of the Attack

The attack resulted in the deaths of 18 people in the crowd, a tragic loss of life. However, despite the hail of bullets, King Louis miraculously survived the assassination attempt.

Interestingly, the recoil from firing such a powerful and unwieldy weapon was so severe that it broke both of the anarchist’s arms. This injury led to his immediate arrest by authorities.

Consequences for the Attacker

Following his arrest, the anarchist was swiftly tried and executed for his actions. The severity of the punishment reflected the gravity of the crime and the threat posed to the monarchy.

Conclusion

The 1835 assassination attempt on King Louis using a 25-barrel gun is a striking example of the lengths to which political extremists have gone to achieve their aims. Despite the deadly attack that claimed many lives, King Louis’s survival was a remarkable event in French history. The incident also highlights the dangers and unpredictability of early firearms technology, as evidenced by the attacker’s injury caused by the recoil of his own weapon.